Friday, November 16, to Sunday, November 18
Friday, November 16
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Downtown Durham
The third Friday of every month, galleries in downtown Durham host exhibit openings. Besides the receptions, you’ll also find lots of musicians busking outside, and there will be lots of special deals at restaurants too. You can find a map and a list of participating venues on 3rdfridaydurham.com.
Winter Wonderland at Park West Village
Friday, November 16, through Sunday, November 18
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night
Park West Village, 3113 Market Center Road, Morrisville
Park West is celebrating the start of the holiday season with visits from Santa, train rides, festive lights, live music, and, on Friday, sledding slopes with real snow. The sledding is for kids age 12 and under, and does require a $1 donation to the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation.
Saturday, November 17
9:40 a.m.
Downtown Raleigh
This parade is the first Christmas parade in the Triangle, and the largest between Washington, DC, and Atlanta. A big hit is the giant balloons.
23rd American Indian Heritage Celebration
Saturday, November 17
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
North Carolina Museum of History, 5 East Edenton Street, Raleigh
Musicians, dancers, artists, storytellers, and authors from North Carolina’s eight state-recognized tribes will gather for this popular family event. Named a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society, the 23rd Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration offers something for all ages and gives a firsthand opportunity to learn about the state’s American Indian culture (with a population of over 120,000), past and present. Activities include craft demonstrations, hands-on activities, games, foods, and much more.
Saturday, November 17
3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Durham Central Park, 501 Foster Street, Durham
Liberty Arts will be holding an iron pour in the middle of Durham Central Park. It’s free to watch this. They’ll be melting 3,000 pounds of iron at 3,000 degrees. They say to think of it as a “gritty ballet where all the dancers are decked out in helmets and head-to-toe in leathers, dancing around a roaring furnace and pouring red hot metal into molds.” There will also be food trucks, beer trucks, arts and crafts for sale, and music to enjoy. Bring a blanket or chairs.